NationStates Jolt Archive

Hey everyone, the time has come for me to experiment. In the next few months I will be building a new computer system. As I am building this computer to be an experiment, I want to use a different OS kernal.

Here's the problem I face. I know little to nothing about other kernals (hence my wanting to use a new one, I want to learn it). I have found information about the following OS's and would like any useful information you all can provide me about them.

Also, if you know of another style of OS that does not use the same kernal as Windows, feel free to post your information.

Linux
I have long heard that Linux was the primary war tool against Microsoft, and that it is better for programming. Wonderful, here are a few different versions that I know of, and would like pros and cons of.

Red Hat Linux
Debian GNU/Linux
Gentoo Linux

Solaris
I just recently found out about Solaris, but have no idea what it actually is. The main reason I can't do this info seeking on my own is that I don't have the time to wade through the company propaganda, and that's all I have found about Solaris in particular.

Basically I want the pros and cons of each of the above mentioned OS's, and if there is anything I don't have here, post it and give me any information you have about it. Please no Mac or Windows information unless it is relevant to something else you're saying.

Thanks for your help guys. Also please note that this will not be my only computer, I will still have a Windows dog to be productive on.

Again, many thanks.

Linux
I have long heard that Linux was the primary war tool against Microsoft, and that it is better for programming. Wonderful, here are a few different versions that I know of, and would like pros and cons of.

Red Hat Linux
Red Hat owns.
Of course, I haven't actually bothered to try anything other than Red Hat, Slackware, or Mandrake, but that doesn't change that Red Hat owns. Slackware owns too.
Debian GNU/Linux
No idea how good it is.
Gentoo Linux
read the statement I made above aloud in reverse three times.
Then ask yourself why you read something out loud backwards, and read it forwards again to decipher the answer to this, namely, that I have never used Gentoo.
Solaris
I just recently found out about Solaris, but have no idea what it actually is.
Neither does anybody else.
:p
No, to be serious, I don't know a single thing about Solaris. I have never seen it in use and never met anybody who uses it. The only thing that I think I know is that it is Unixbased, but I might be wrong.

Linux is better for programming... if you intend on programming for Linux. Otherwise, you're much better programming on Windows for Windows. As with all Linux distributions, upon installing, you're signing away your soul to the open source zealots, meaning you can never touch commercial software ever again, and can never, ever, EVER say "windows" without spelling it as "windoze". Plus you have to browse Slashdot.org 23 hours per day, and regularly submit news stories which have already been posted on 5874932 websites, six months previous. It also helps if you're single, living in your parents basement, and have no friends. Facial blemishes are optional, but complete the look.

That, or you could play Half Life 2 on Windows.

Neo listed two more versions of Linux for you. In addition to those, there's Fedora Core, which is the free version of Red Hat, and there's Suse.

Among Linuxes, the particular distribution you get shouldn't matter too much. The window manager and desktop manager will affect your daily business on a much larger scale.

I've used Solaris in a few places. It's basically Unix. The UI has always been like using X in Linux without a window manager. I don't know if you can change it or not. Regardless, I don't think it's free, and I wouldn't bother paying for a Unix-based OS unless you intend to set up a large network of computers.

Apple OSX:

The Unix Based operating system used on apple computer systems.

Pros:
Incredibly Sleek and easy to use GUI
Fast
Very Stable
Your almost free from hackers and vrisus, as very few mac hacks exist.
Wide assortment of programs.
Capable of Running Windows programs with virtual PC
Runs Linux Programs

Cons:
Very expensive hardware needed to run it
Not directly compaticable with most software

Neo listed two more versions of Linux for you. In addition to those, there's Fedora Core, which is the free version of Red Hat
Hmm, I just lumped FC in under Red Hat. FC is what I'm currently using on my laptop.

Hmm, I just lumped FC in under Red Hat. FC is what I'm currently using on my laptop.
Me too. My CS friends tried to get me to use Mandrake, but we couldn't get it to work on my computer. Something was funny about ACPI, so it wouldn't boot.

My CS friends tried to get me to use Mandrake, but we couldn't get it to work on my computer. Something was funny about ACPI, so it wouldn't boot.
Mandrake wiped my desktop's harddrive when I tried to install it, but it worked on my laptop. I didn't like it as much as FC though.

I assume that you are going to build a new computer, rather than actually BUY a new computer :)

The reason that I ask is that OSX is Apple centric, no Mac ? No OSX. Which is a shame really, because of all of the flavors on Unix, OSX is probably the very best from a new user standpoint.

So, you choice is going to be some form of Unix.

BSD (freeBSD, netBSD etc) is a flavor, and as such you get pretty much everything you need out of the box. BSD refers to Berkeley Shell, its Unix origins traceable back to Berkeley versions of Unix back in the 1960's !

Interestingly enough ISX is based on BSD !

Linux

You asked about specific version...

Gentoo - run away, do NOT go here unless you really, really want to get into the guts of the OS. The idea is great, custom compiled kernals (the core of the OS) for your machine, compiled as you install it. In theory it contains nothing you do not want. Which is GREAT assuming you actually know what it is you want. Its awfull if you are a newbie though (or even much less than an expert).

Debian - one of two new-user-friendly installations. Easy to install, and easy to keep up to date. Want to install some new software - apt-get install {name of package} and its done. Want to update your machine apt-get update

etc

Two main choices of GUI - Gnome and KDE - both have their advantages, nothing to stop you swapping back and forth, extremely customiseable GUI's

Redhat / Fedora.

This is my current choice on my Thinkpad - its fast, stable, easy to install, and even easier to keep up to date (type up2date at the command line)

same GUI choices at Debian.

Because Debian has been around a lot longer than fedora, Debian support (google for the issue) is a lot better, but Fedora is catching, and besides I needed a change / challenge.....

Oh - I run OSX on a G5, Fedora Fc3/64 on an AMD-64 (yes thats a 64-bit version of Unix on a desktop :) ), FC3 on my Thinkpad, and Gentoo on an Xp2500.... If I am in the office I can be heard swearing at WinXP on another thinkpad....

Thank you all for your help. If anyone else has any ideas, please let 'em fly.

Now, on to specific replies.

I assume that you are going to build a new computer, rather than actually BUY a new computer

Damn skippy. My girlfriend is moving in with me, and I'll be letting her have my laptop. As such I need to pick up another computer so that when she has it in class or whatnot I've got something I can use. Because of this I decided that I want to build rather than buy so that I can spend the same money and have a computer with 10x the capabilities, and none of the BS that comes from buying a pre-built.

Apple OSX
Thanks, but no thanks. Apple and I have a long history of hatred. I can use Apple about the same way as I can eat beets.

Linux is better for programming... if you intend on programming for Linux. Otherwise, you're much better programming on Windows for Windows. As with all Linux distributions, upon installing, you're signing away your soul to the open source zealots, meaning you can never touch commercial software ever again, and can never, ever, EVER say "windows" without spelling it as "windoze". Plus you have to browse Slashdot.org 23 hours per day, and regularly submit news stories which have already been posted on 5874932 websites, six months previous. It also helps if you're single, living in your parents basement, and have no friends. Facial blemishes are optional, but complete the look.

That, or you could play Half Life 2 on Windows.

My, someone seems rather high and mighty. Run along now and stop spamming my thread.
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Neo and Pythagosaurus, thanks for your informative posts. They were incredibly helpful as usual. If you've got anything else, let me know.

I like Mac OSX, and would use it if Apple released the x86 port for it.

Linux just isn't a viable alternative for me. The hardware drivers available for it just aren't good enough. Windows may be a buggy piece of crap, but at least I know I can buy any piece of hardware, plug it in and be using it within 10 minutes.

I like Mac OSX, and would use it if Apple released the x86 port for it.

Linux just isn't a viable alternative for me. The hardware drivers available for it just aren't good enough. Windows may be a buggy piece of crap, but at least I know I can buy any piece of hardware, plug it in and be using it within 10 minutes.

Actually, if you go with Windows Server 2003 it isn't that buggy and has all the functionality of XP. Only it's about 1000x better.

My recomendations: Windows Server 2003 or Linux

P.S. If you find a good Linux DL (if such a thing for Red Hat exists) please e-mail me a linky to it! It would be appreciated.